We live in Long Beach, California. We moved a year ago from four blocks from the beach to an area with slightly different bugs, birds, trees about five miles inland.

Our patio has single strands of what appear to be spider silk but I have no idea what is spinning the strands. They appear a bit thicker and tougher than spiderweb, and are all single strands, but sometimes where there are several sticks near one another several strands get made.

Never see anything caught on one of the strands. What would make such constructions?

Thanks.

Those sound like anchor strands for the common garden orb weaver spiders. The anchor strands are normally built from the ground or a low bush up into a tree or building. The spider builds its circular web between anchor strands. The anchor strands can be as long as forty feet. Next time you find one you may see a web above you.